Housed within the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, California, the Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease (CECD) is the only organization in the United States fully dedicated to providing comprehensive care for people affected by Chagas disease.

Mission Statement:

The Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease (CECD) at the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center will provide care for Chagas disease and supports the principle that healthcare is a human right. The CECD will lead efforts to expand screening and treatment of this neglected disease in the United States.

A hidden disease…

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It is spread mainly by blood-sucking insects known as kissing bugs. Not everyone gets symptoms, but 30-40% of people infected with the parasite eventually develop heart disease or other serious complications. This happens 20-30 years after they were initially infected. Most people are unaware they have Chagas disease; less than 1% have been diagnosed.